Olivia Nichols, executive director of Rock River Community Clinic, told the Dodge County Human Services Board that the federally qualified health center lookalike is moving into Watertown and into Dodge County and asked the county to increase its annual support from $7,000 to $10,000 to reflect the new location and expanded services.

“The new location is right across the street from Watertown Regional Medical Center,” Nichols said, adding that the clinic’s lookalike status means it meets HRSA regulations and can access higher Medicaid reimbursement and loan forgiveness programs for providers. Nichols said the clinic has doubled its square footage, added removable dentures and partials to dental services and is expanding behavioral health care focused on youth.

Emily Shire of PAVE told the board the organization’s lethality assessment program (LAP), which pairs law enforcement with immediate victim outreach, has been a critical crisis response in Dodge County. She described one May LAP referral involving a person tenting in a county park who was sheltered at PAVE’s secure facility during a tornado.

“I’m positive that one of the reasons of that is that this LAP program exists,” Shire said, describing the agency’s role in immediate sheltering and its crisis line. Shire said PAVE has quadrupled its shelter capacity with a new building and now has an advertised address at 111 East Burnett Street; she asked the county to continue the same level of support as last year, noting the organization is operating at a deficit and has not added staff or given inflationary raises.

Karen Gibbs, development director at Church Health Services, summarized the nonprofit’s 33-year clinic that serves uninsured and low-income residents with dental, mental-health and limited medical services. Gibbs said Church Health Services is not state- or federally funded, recently finished a remodel that expanded mental-health capacity to seven counseling rooms and continues school-based work in Beaver Dam, Horicon, Waupun and Fond du Lac.

Representatives from Central Wisconsin Community Action Coalition (CWCAC) outlined both a general request and a proposal to continue Dodge County–specific rapid rehousing. Jim Dahlke, an accountant with CWCAC, requested the same contribution as prior years: $7,500 for general operations and an additional $5,000 to help administer nongovernmental funds the agency manages for local donors and foundations. CWCAC also asked the county to fund a $25,000 Dodge County Rapid Rehousing Program, with the packet showing $9,600 budgeted for rental assistance and $4,000 for a case manager; other line items include insurance, space costs and indirect expenses.

Ashley Torres, co-manager of CWCAC’s homeless programs, said the agency averages about 100 calls or walk-ins a month in Dodge County and about 34 new clients among them, and that both the family and men’s shelters currently have wait lists.

Board members asked presenters about outreach and coverage. Nichols said Rock River updates its ForwardHealth provider listing and works with hospital partners, schools and referral networks to recruit patients and providers; she cited loan forgiveness incentives as key to recruiting a new dentist beginning June 16. Shire told the board PAVE collaborates with all county law enforcement agencies and the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office and co-facilitates a county task force on sexual assault and domestic abuse.

No formal vote or funding decision was taken at the hearing. The board chair said the county would consider the requests as part of its budget process and adjourned the public hearing portion of the meeting.

Why it matters: County contributions to local nonprofits are often used as matching or leverage in grant applications and help keep emergency, behavioral-health, dental and housing services available for low-income residents and Medicaid enrollees in Dodge County.

Details to note: Rock River requested a specific increase from $7,000 to $10,000 tied to a move into Dodge County and expanded services. PAVE asked to maintain last year’s support but did not specify a dollar amount in the hearing; the organization described increased facility costs after expanding capacity. CWCAC provided a line-item request for $12,500 in operating/admin support and a $25,000 rapid-rehousing budget with $9,600 earmarked for rental assistance and $4,000 for a case manager. Church Health Services described expanded mental-health capacity and school-based outreach but did not request a specific dollar amount during the remarks.

The board heard multiple testimonials and asked clarifying questions; no funding actions were adopted at this session.